Modern Healthcare
The leader in healthcare business news, research data
Unsure of CMS’ strategy, providers may retreat on risk models
Providers fear that the CMS is sending mixed messages on regulatory relief on the shift to value-based care.
ONC seeks comments on Interoperability Standards Advisory
The 21st Century Cures Act tasked the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology with a herculean task: solve the interoperability puzzle.
Redesigning hospitals with patient experience in mind
Hospital design is moving beyond cosmetic changes to please patients by adding features that give them more control.
Research
MASTERING MACRA: What you need to know about Medicare’s physician Quality Payment Program
MACRA’s approach to reimbursing physicians is here, but many doctors and administrators are still trying to get a handle on how it works. Read on for tips on how to deal with this major change to the Medicare payment system.
Data Points: Is it time to talk?
Providers
HCA’s East Houston Regional Medical Center unable to weather the storm
HCA-owned East Houston Regional Medical Center will not reopen after the flood damage it sustained from Hurricane Harvey.
Insurance
HealthCare.gov numbers outpaced 2016 during first week of open enrollment
Sign-ups during the first week of ACA open enrollment outpaced last year’s, suggesting concerns that enrollment would falter this year were overblown.
Government
Feds backing out of lawsuit against HCR ManorCare
The federal government is moving to dismiss a lawsuit it brought two years ago against the national nursing-care provider after a judge tossed out the government’s key witness over issues of credibility.
Finance
CHI cuts quarterly operating loss by more than half
Catholic Health Initiatives reported improved financial results in the quarter ended Sept. 30, and officials say the health system is making progress with a turnaround.
Technology
DEA cracking down on fake fentanyl traffickers
The goal is to make it easier for federal prosecutors to go after people who peddle illicit versions of the deadly opioid fentanyl that are fueling the nation’s drug abuse crisis.
Transformation
Using avatars to practice hard conversations
A pilot program, funded by the CDC’s cancer division, is experimenting with allowing patients to ask a virtual coach questions that they might otherwise feel too uncomfortable or overwhelmed to ask a real physician.
Safety & Quality
Overlapping neurosurgeries don’t hurt patient outcomes
Patient outcomes don’t suffer when surgeons perform critical parts of the procedure and then depart for another underway, according to a new JAMA study.
People
Guest Commentary: More providers need to embrace integrative health approach
Our healthcare system is obsessed with delivering medical services, performing procedures and prescribing medications. It really needs to become obsessed with producing health.
Surveys
This week’s poll: Has Trump been good or bad for healthcare?
Share your opinion in the latest edition of our biweekly reader poll. Has Trump been good or bad for healthcare?